Motography (Jan-Jun 1918)

326 MOTOGRAPHY Vol. XIX, No. 7 "Vengeance — and the Woman" Vitagraph Serial, Episode No. 8, The Mountain of Devastation, Starring William Duncan and Carol Holloway. Reviewed by L. J. Bourstein. T HIS is by far one of the most exciting episodes of the serial. Some new stunts are tried and nearly end disastrously for Blake and his wife. Picture if you can a huge rock that is tumbled over the side of a precipice and smashes to bits a very comfortable and pretentious looking bungalow. This is how it happens. In the last episode Blake has been caught in a wolf trap set by the outlaws and is set upon by a horde of wolves but is rescued by the sheriff and taken to a cabin among the rocks wherein lives an eastern doctor vacationing in the West. Blake is left in the doctor's care and the sheriff goes after the outlaws. Next day Blake is able to get about and sees the outlaws surrounding the cabin. His wife escapes from the outlaws and once again together they proceed to hold the outlaws at bay. The doctor is out on a hunting trip and sees on a cliff in the rear of his cabin two men working with a giant jack screw to push a huge rock down on the cabin. Shots warn Blake and his wife and they escape none too soon for the mass of rock come tumbling over on top of the house crushing it to smithereens. Blake and his wife are being chased by the outlaws who see the miscarrying of their evil plans and arranging a pulley carriage on a cable stretched across a deep gorge, the two ride this hurriedly constructed vehicle and when half way across the cable is cut by the outlaws and this time both Blake and his wife are precipitated to the unknown depths below. 'The Hired Man" Paramount Picture, Starring Charles Ray. Released January 28. Reviewed by L. J. Bourstein. CHARLES RAY again portrays a country boy, but this time he stays in the country. A story genuinely differing from what he has had to work on in the past is furnished and proves excellent material for the star. As Ezry Hollins, a country youth, who has been struggling for years to save enough money so that he could better his meagre education, Ray gives an entirely human touch to his work. The pungent odor of the "down east" farm literally emanates from each scene. There is an old-time barn dance with the farmers slyly imbibing probably too much of the fresh country cider and the young folks galavanting around the floor while the staid and quiet country wives babble among themselves. This gives quite a bit of the real back home on the farm atmosphere and is a sight that brings memories of the days gone by. Good photography, excellent direction and capable work by the cast makes this one of the most interesting of the Ray subjects. Doris Lee again is presented in support of the star and her' countenance is a very pleasing addition to the ranks of film beauties. The Story: Ezry Hollins has long cherished a secret desire to educate himself and for many years has labored as a hired man on Farmer Endicott's farm. His good nature and ever ready helpfulness makes him a favorite among the men and this is recognized by Ruth, the farmer's daughter. She learns of Ezry's ambitions and, herself a college girl, she helps him and he passes the examinations for college. In the meantime Ruth's brother, Walter, has fallen into bad company and heavily in debt, embezzles some of the bank's money. Ezry steps in to say goodby and Walter pleading with him for assistance induces Ezry to turn over his savings to him. His great ambitions wrecked, Ezry returns to the farm to the amazement of every one and refuses to explain his change of mind. Ruth, however, still believes in him and one' night seeing a light in his window goes to his room. Endicott discovers the two and fires Ezry. Not willing to wait until morning to leave Ezry bids Ruth goodby and starts out that night. But fate takes a hand. Walter returns home drunk and carelessly drops a match. A fire immediately envelopes the entire house in flames. Ezry, not far away, sees the smoke and returns. Endicott, his wife and Ruth are safe but Walter cannot be found, Ezry unmindful of the danger rushes upstairs through the flames and finds Walter unconscious and brings him out safely. Walter explains his part in the changing of Ezry's fortunes and Farmer Endicott realizes that his hired man had sacrificed himself for the family. The hired man and the boss' daughter. 'Flare-Up' Sal" Paramount Picture, Starring Dorothy Dalton. Released January 27. Reviewed by L. J. Bourstein THOMAS INCE has taken the gold rush of the early fifties as *■ the basis of his most recent picture, with Dorothy Dalton as the star, and has produced another very entertaining story. The plot of the story is not a complicated one but is nevertheless a pleasing subject; pictures have been produced based on a similar outline and have proved satisfactory. The main character is Sal, an adopted child of one of the many prospectors who were carried away with hopes of an immediate accumulation of wealth. There enters into the plot a daring hold-up man of that period who is being constantly hunted because of his lawlessness and his empty existence brings about a strange turn of affairs. The mere thought of a road agent attempting an impersonation of a parson and then carrying the bluff so far as to attempt to rejuvenate Sal is, to say the least, ludicrous. But it finally works out complacently and Sal leaves with her daring admirer. Dorothy Dalton has a role somewhat different from her most recent characters and fills the part very satisfactorily. Thurston Hall makes a very manly hold-up man and is equally as good in the garb of the preacher. William Conklin and J. P. Lockney complete the cast of principals and do very effective work. The Story: Sal earns the soubriquet of Flare-up when she is accosted by Dandy Dave, owner of the dance hall and saloon to which she goes in search of her guardian. He loses his outfit at cards and Sal to win it back for him plays with Dave with herself as the prize. She loses and becomes the chief attraction of the hall, her impromptu dancing having elicited much applause. The coach comes in with news of the hold-up by the Red Rider, an unknown character, who had been terrorizing the neighborhood for some time. Next day the new parson comes to town and meets Sal and incurs the enmity of Dave. Sal is attracted by his manliness and attends one of the prayer meetings but scurrilous remarks by members of the congregation bring about an avowal to run the minister out of town. Dandy Dave and his cohorts from the saloon get Sal out of the parish house and plan the ruin of the "sky-pilot." He is lured to Sal's room but there suspicion lurks in her mind that he is not an "honest to God preacher." He evasively replies when she puts the question to him and she undergoes a change of heart; she tells him that members of the parish have been informed _ by Dave that their parson is with the notorious Sal and assists him to escape. When Dave breaks in with the parishioners the parson is nowhere to be found and Dave is furious. That night the daring Red Rider holds up the saloon and Sal recognizes him as the preacher. When one of the men takes a shot at him Sal pulls a gun and kills the fellow and shoots out the lights. The Red Rider and Sal together, he reveals his identity and they go to his cabin where they are married by the real minister whom the Red Rider had "kidnapped.